5 comments about Timepiece (1996).

1. "Christmas Box" is one of my all-time favorite movies, and I've been itching for the beautiful prequel "Timepiece" to come out. Told in the frame of reminiscence, this is the backstory of the dignified Mary Parkin of the other movie, and of her husband and daughter.

   Kevin Kilner is astonishingly good as David Parkin, the owner of a successful company during WW2. David is a bachelor with odd social habits; among other things, his best friend is a black clockmaker named Lawrence (James Earl Jones, who is OBVIOUSLY amazing), considered an eccentricity in the upper crust of the 1940s noveau riche.

   A young English woman, Mary Anne Chandler, arrives and somehow ends up as David's secretary. But he isn't yet aware that she has a secret: She's pregnant by a deceased soldier, and unwed, a major stigma at that time. David marries her nevertheless, and for a time they are immensely happy together. David considers her daughter to be his, and soon about five years have passed.

   Meanwhile Lawrence befriends an elderly, kindly spinster with a wastrel nephew. When she dies, she gives all of her money to charities - except for a beautiful, valuable clock that she leaves to Lawrence. The nephew and his friends, needless to say, aren't too pleased. When the nephew shows up, drunk, there's a scuffle and he's accidently shot with his own gun. David dives in to take the blame, knowing that a court would try Lawrence unjustly. This good deed results in an outpouring of both love and hate, with tragic results...

   I've only seen Kilner in one other role -- that of the first lead on Earth: Final Conflict--and was not impressed by his acting abilities. And, additionally, I was groaning in pain when I found out he had been cast as David; I thought he was all wrong for the part. This movie, however, lets him shine. Naomi Watts is excellent as the woman whose hardships forge her into a much stronger person, showing indications of the dignified older woman of "Christmas Box."

   James Earl Jones is a jewel as Lawrence Flynn, an elderly black man who must suddenly deal with the prejudice of some of the town's residents, alongside his friend, Miss Maud Gannon. Jones is, needless to say, amazing. Richard Thomas doesn't really star -- he's in a cameo, at best, artificially aged, but it's a good cameo that sets up the whole movie. Mercedes Kastner, the girl playing little Andrea Parkin is pretty good for a child actor, but not stellar; at times she's a little too affected.

   Flaws? Well, there are some dissimilarities to the book, in more than altered dialogue. In the book, Andrea was not fathered by a deceased soldier, but just some abusive jerk. Richard Thomas's gray artificial eyebrows look like dust bunnies, and he really isn't convincing as an old man. He looks like a young man trying to look old. The effects of the attack on Lawrence is much more severe in the book; but as there are children watching this movie, it's just as well.

   Nevertheless, this is truly beautifully made. The sets and settings are amazing, and I get the feeling that the actors were enjoying what they were making. If you feel in the mood for a really lovely movie, or enjoyed the other movie, you should definitely watch "Timepiece."




2. The gorgeous bookshelves in the study at the start of this movie had my attention and then the theme of clocks and watches was quite unique. Even if you have not seen "The Christmas Box," you can enjoy this story. This sequel focuses more on the life of David and Mary and how they find one another and keep their marriage together.
   
   Timepiece is one of those stories some will find hard to believe would ever happen in real life. Strange, yet true, not only did someone leave Christmas presents on our doorstep one year in real life, my brother also survived meningitis. So, two aspects of this movie made complete sense to me.
   
   The first half is more of a love story and the middle is filled with tragedy. The ending is so beautiful in that the characters learn to forgive and by doing so, bring beauty back into their lives.
   
   The true meanings of friendship, loyalty and love are also explored. The emotions at times border on being overly sentimental, but for the most part, the story flows nicely.
   
   The beauty of this story is more in how the characters react to tragedies in their lives. They discover what it means to forgive and share their lives with those who have also suffered.
   
   As many in America face a Christmas filled with the pain of loosing those they loved this year, I felt this movie could almost be a guide as to how we can turn our personal suffering into joy and hope.
   
   We may not always understand why God allows tragedy into our lives. The story of Mary and David Parkin shows how when you look for ways to make other people happy, you can find joy again and can even learn to appreciate life in a more altruistic way.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



3. My daughters and I watched this after the Christmas Box on
   Christmas night (which has become a tradition for us). We absolutely loved it!We were once again overwhelmed by the story of the Parkin's.The loss of their daughter made us
   sob as did the unexpected ending.I have come to expect this
   from the writings of Mr. Evans,what a talented man!He hits on every emotion possible but the one most evident to me is "HOPE".He makes us believe that there is hope in every situation especially when you think all is lost.The actors in this movie were perfect in their roles and brought this wonderful story to life.I hope to treasure these movies for years to come. They say that each time you watch a movie you catch something that you missed the first time and I'm sure this will be the same.I can't wait to see it again.



4. I caught this movie on the Hallmark Channel a few weekends ago and just couldn't stop crying! But in a good way ~ there were sad parts , yes, but by the end of the movie you are just crying at the goodness of these people through the hard times. James Earl Jones really was excellent in this movie & put great emotion into this role. The faces he made were so powerful, he's just such a great actor. Naomi Watts was beautiful in this and Kevin Kilner was great also. I bought this movie right away after I saw it because this is a movie I want to watch each Christmas & share with others :-)



5. Great Companion to the Christmas Box. You need to view both to get the whole picture.

No comments about Geysers of Yellowstone.

1 comments about Grand Teton.

1. Many people may just see Grand Teton as a drive-by on the way to Yellowstone. Or, if they stop at all, it's just to look at the Tetons themselves and that's it.
   
   There's much more to do here -- see elk and moose, pelicans, swans and other waterfowl, hike to or around one of several lakes, or hike backcountry. This video looks at more of the possibilities.
   
   Just about any Finley-Holiday video will be worth your money. High-quality shooting, good cinematography, informative voice-overs and very fitting musical scoring all add up to make a great series.
   
   Plus, videos in the Finley-Holiday series normally have bonus features, such as sidebar attractions in the area. And, they film in all seasons of the year, something you and I can't do on a single trip.
   
   In other words, if you haven't gone to a particular park yet, Finley-Holiday will be the final thing to get you going. If you have, it's a great souvenir without having to lug a camcorder around yourself.

5 comments about Santa & Pete.

1. I first saw this movie about three years ago on network TV. I was lucky enought ot record it then but hated fast forwarding through the commercials again and again. I loved it and never thought of looking here to find it.
   
   It is a wonderful story that give a neat little insight on where Santa got some of his stuff like flying reindeer. I highly recommend see this movie.



2. If you are looking for a very imaginative Christmas movie, this one is for you and your kids. Okay, I admit that it plays the facts quite loosely, but the story is so clever this movie should be a Christmas classic. It follows St. Nicholas from ancient times through all the nooks and turns that it might have taken to arrive at the modern traditions of Santa Clause. Parents will laugh at some of the imaginative ways this movie conceives for the origin of Santa traditions, and kids will love the story just because it is the story of Santa!



3. This movie is one that is so different. It brings together the true meaning of how Santa began and how he got his reindeer, suit of clothes, it adds religion to it and all walks of life and is very culture orginity...which is something lacking in our world today...my whole family loved it and watched it many many times over the holidays



4. Santa & Pete combines drama and comic relief, life lessons, and a vision of faith's rewards. Great entertainment for young and old alike. A healthy movie for children to see and a delight for parents to view with their kids.
   This is an especially heartwarming tale for the holidays that can be enjoyed anytime and enjoyed over and over again!



5. This made-for-Tv movie is based on the myths of St. Nicholas and the Netherland's Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete. It does a charming job of explaining many of the origins of the myths associated with Santa Claus, how he came to use reindeer, how he aquired his traditional outfit, how stockings came to be used and many others.
   This is a charming, multi-cultural tale that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy.

2 comments about Angel & Soldier Boy.

1. Children will be mesmorized by this silent tale based on the wordless picture book by British author/illustrator Peter Collington. A little girl has received a piggy bank, the book Treasure Island, and a dollhouse-sized angel and soldier boy for her birthday. That night, after she falls asleep, the pirates sneak out of the book and take the money from her new bank. The soldier boy discovers their crime but is captured before he can retrieve the coin- it is up to the tiny angel to save the day!

   I have shared The Angel and the Soldier Boy video with students from grades 1-5 and all have enjoyed this gentle story. They also liked comparing/contrasting it with the book.

   If you like this video be sure to check out The Snowman based on the wordless picture book by Raymond Briggs.




2. The Angel and the Soldier Boy is my most treasured movie. I still watch it, even as a teenager (I'm actually 9+6) , at night before bedtime. The music is "top of the line" and the story is beautiful.
   The story is about a courageous soldier boy and a sweet little angel doll. They must get a piece of stolen money back to the little girl to whom it belongs from the wicked pirates who took it.
   The Angel and the Soldier Boy will be perfect for anyone's family, even if there aren't any kids around.

2 comments about Spirit of Christmas.

1. This is great and so it South Park



2. Excellent item. Not promoted well, a real sleeper. Excellent music from the likes of Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Beautiful imagery. Just the thing to get you in the mood when wrapping, or unwrapping, Christmas gifts. Enjoyed it enough to purchase several as gifts for next year. If you love Christmas DVDs, this is a real treasure!

No comments about An All Dogs Christmas Carol/Christmas Carol: The Movie.

No comments about Rocky Mountain National Park.

1 comments about Lake Powell.

1. Going for a vacation in Utah & Arizona in March, I bought this DVD to get info about Lake Powell. Having seen lots of BBC produced documentaries and working in the film industry, I'm expecting HQ video. This main video on this DVD is below broadcast quality and even has a few dropouts - that is not acceptable!
   
   Some of the extra material has better quality video - but seems more like a holiday video presentation than a professional documentary. Apart from that - it still offers some interesting info and history about the lake.

5 comments about Home for Christmas.

1. I love the Christmas music of Johnny Mathis--it is among the very best ever recorded--so I thought this would be a sure thing. Unfortunately, for Johnny the artist and us the viewers, this video is a mixed bag. Johnny and everyone concerned are lip-synching the whole time. Sometimes this is very obvious, sometimes not. The sets are very pretty and Christmasy, but the background actors, choirs, and the bits of business they are given to do are very stagey. At times I could find myself forgetting this, at others I found it quite intrusive and hard to ignore. Johnny and his singers were at times quite wooden, other times okay--as I said at the beginning, a mixed bag. Had this been prepared for a network television special, it would never have passed muster. As it is, you can tell that Columbia didn't want to put much money, time, or effort into the production other than to make it look quite Christmasy and inviting. Unfortunately for all concerned, the whole thing comes off looking rather cheesy. The transfer to DVD is typical of its type and age: a small-budget televison/video production from 1990. The image is adequately sharp, but not spectacular in detail. All that aside, I still enjoyed it, BUT buyer beware.



2. Johnny Mathis Home For Christmas looks a lot better on this dvd then it did on the vhs tape.The grain is gone.The video is sharp but it's not as sharp as Johnny Mathis Live By Request.The sound is ok but it's not the surround sound that was on Johnny Mathis Live By Request dvd.The Christmas scenes on this are pretty.The colors were kind of dull thou and the picture is a little darker than the vhs.The menus are animated and show clips of Johnny Mathis Videos.One such selection is I'll Be Home For Christmas.There are no bonus features on this disc however there is chapter stops.Also there is no insert in the dvd jewel box but they didn't need one since they have the song list listed on the back.You can play thru the whole program or just pick you favorite song to play.Here is the songlist on this dvd.
   
   1)I'll Be Home For Christmas
   2)Every Christmas Eve/Giving(Santa's Song)
   3)O Holy Night
   4)It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
   5)Toyland
   6)The Christmas Song
   7)Caroling Caroling/Happy Holiday
   8)What Child Is This?
   9)Winter Wonderland
   10)Silent Night Holy Night
   11)When A Child Is Born
   12)White Christmas
   
   If your a Johnny Mathis fan you should pick this one up.I recommend it.Now that Legacy has released this on dvd I'd like to see them reissiue Tony Bennett's A Family Christmas.



3. Sorry, but I must protest. I'm dumbfounded as to why they would release this disgraceful embarrassment when I thought we'd seen the last of it. For years before this thing came out, Johnny Mathis had only been associated with quality, but around 1990 they decide to slap this high school Christmas production together. It's beyond cheese, it was stupid having a 50-something Mathis lip-sych to his own 20-something voice on videotape. At least when he was on Ed Sullivan doing the stagey stuff he actually WAS a twentysomething. I hated the VHS when it came out, I was embarrassed for Johnny Mathis, whose reputation for quality had been breached in one fell swoop, and I'm disgusted that they chose not to let this one remain out of production. Things won't change unless the people show Columbia that we're smart enough to know that Mathis doesn't have to sound like a 20-something for us to enjoy his music, that he can still sing the holiday classics in his present-day voice and sing them well, thank you very much, and that we want a NEW holiday video done LIVE with his current voice. Put the man in a real church with real musicians and let him sing with his REAL voice. Well, maybe I'm the only one who wants that, but I don't care. The only reason this even gets two stars is because if you turn the video portion off you don't have a bad Christmas album, considering none of the great original Christmas songs he's done since 1990 are on it...hm, probably should remove a star for that. What I recommend: buy Merry Christmas, buy Give Me Your Love for Christmas, buy Christmas Eve with Johnny Mathis, buy The Christmas Album from two years ago, find Listen It's Christmas and The Sounds of Christmas on eBay and buy it, but do NOT buy this sorry excuse for a holiday video, whether VHS or DVD. Ed Sullivan has some great excerpts of a young Johnny Mathis doing Christmas songs, I suggest buying his collection for those who need to live on memory lane.



4. One of our families favorite Christmas traditions is watching Home for Christmas. our VHS tape had fadded, so the DVD is a great way to maintain the original memories invoked by this timeless classic.



5. Shut the lights, except for the tree and watch alone or with a loved one for a sweet, peaceful Christmas holiday night.
   
   This is not for a crowd of noisy folks at holiday time. This is for the peace of the season.